The Washington bee., 1887-01-15

their case, thousands OF young
educated negroes are heard in the
pulpit, at the bar, on the stump
and every other place where liber-
ty of conscience or person de-
mands their presence, and influ-
ence.
They are the ones who have
influence with the people of color,
for they are with, and of them.
They are the ones who in every
community shape and formulate
ideas for the masses. The young
educated colored men are the bea-
con lights Of their race, and it is
that class Of politicians and
others hoping to read the colored
vote must cultivate. The influence
exercised by this class of colored
men was, in the appointment of
Mr.. Matthews, recognized by Presi-
dent Cleveland. who with remark
able quick perception discover
ed the elements, weakness and
strength of the republican party
in it's relation to the colored vote.
The republican leaders invested
their entire political capital in
Douglass, and others and a
few lesser lights loosing sight of
the fact that young, vigorous
and powerful element abroad
among the colored people az is
credit to the whites.
The question now is not as to
what their cotorie OF followers think
on subjects pertaining to the inter
est OF the colored people, but what
are the views of the masses as voic-
ed by the hundred or more colored
newspapers supplemented by the
intelligent utterances from the
pulpit college, school house, bar,
and other professional avenues, oc-
cupied and controlled by intelligent
and educated young colored men.
This is the element of strength
recognized by President Cleveland
in the appointment of Mr.. Mat
thew who although democrat in
politics is a typical representative
of the possibilities Of the negro
since the war. Therefore it is not
surprising that Mr.. Matthew's is
opposed by certain class Of col
ored men who are constantly prat-
ing about race pride, but who fail
in it's application unless personal,
ly benefited. The negro in most
respects is like a white man and in
his make up there is large percen-
tage of envy and jealousy, he
does not relish the idea of being
superseded, neither does he grace,
fully yeild to the inevitable when
every consideration points in that
direction. That Mr.. Matthews, al.
though not in party accord with
this class of colored men, should
become target for their shafts OF
envy, malice ETC., is not surprising
TOR they recognize the hand writing
on the wall and die hard.
The success of Mr.. Matthews is
fatal to this fossil element for the
reason that if he succeeds young
blood and progressive ideas will
asserts itself inside as we'll as out
side of the republican party. The
representative" negro has too
long been taken from the chosen
few, hereafter they must represent
something beside personal interest,
they must be men generous enough
out of the abundance of their
means to endow college Or give a
scholarship to somepoor struggling
colored boy or girl famishing for a
higher education than their means
will enable them to acquire.
They must be in sympathy with
common humanity to substantially
aid some colored orphans home OF
home for aged and infirm colored
people. They must see that work.
shops are started, with their assis.
tance, wherein the colored boy and
girl can acquire industrial pursuits
other than in white mans kitchen
They must follow the example OF
Mr.. James G. Matthews and put
their hands in their pockets and
devote some of the money obtained
in defending the rights of the 'deal
colored people," towards encour-
aging manufacturing and indus
trial pursuits through colored
State Fairs etc. Who of our so call
ed colored representative mer
can point to a single thing of 6
public character beneficial to the
colored people established or fos
tered by them? To their shame anG
to the humiliation of the race the
record is a blank, and with all oul
boast about our wealthy and inflE
entail representative colored mer